Get secure with a smartcard and support FSFE’s work in 2015

: 2014-12-03

Free Software Foundation Europe is a pan-European charity,
established in 2001 to empower users to control technology. To enable the
organisation to intensify its work with the European Commission and to let more
people know about Free Software, the FSFE needs another €190,000 for its work
in 2015. Next year, the FSFE will push harder than ever to weave software
freedom into the fabric of our society.

The new European Commission is currently setting the direction of its
policy making for the coming five years. The FSFE is in frequent contact with
Commission staff who currently see open doors for Free Software in Brussels.
In 2015, the FSFE wants to use this momentum to push for changes on software
procurement, standardisation, and device sovereignty, and create real progress
for Free Software and Open Standards.

At the same time, in 2015 the FSFE will reach out to more people, and go to
more places where people do not yet know about Free Software. The FSFE will
expand its network of local groups throughout Europe. The organisation is
constantly translating its increasingly popular promotion materials
into many European languages. Local volunteers can spread the word about Free
Software by ordering gratis promotion packs, and distributing the materials at
libraries, cinemas, shops and in other places, greatly extending the reach of
the Free Software message.

The best way to support the FSFE's work is to
become a Fellow (a sustaining member of the FSFE). All
Fellowship contributions directly benefit the FSFE’s work towards a free
society. Fellows receive a state-of-the-art
Fellowship smartcard which, together with the free GnuPG encryption
software and a card reader, can be used to sign and encrypt e-mails, to secure
SSH keys, to securely log into a computer from a potentially insecure machine,
or to store the user’s hard disk encryption keys. Since the encryption key is
stored on the card itself, it is almost impossible to steal.

To continue its work in 2015, the FSFE will need €420,000 in total. The
organisation has already secured €230,000 thanks to existing sustaining
members, regular donations, and merchandise sales. The FSFE requires another
€190,000 to underwrite its work in 2015.